Electrical wiring installation system

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, systems, and methods related to an electrical wiring installation system that has a clip assembly and at least one post coupleable to the clip assembly. The clip assembly has an upper member with a first clamping surface and a threaded receptacle, and a lower member with a second clamping surface and an aperture. The upper member and the lower member are mateable such that the first clamping surface faces the second clamping surface. The post includes a base with a wire engagement member and a threaded shaft extending from the base. The threaded shaft is configured to pass through the aperture of the lower member of the clip assembly and threadably mate with the threaded receptacle of the upper member of the clip assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/219,056, titled “Electrical Wiring Installation System,” filed Jul.25, 2016, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/197,217, titled “Electrical Wiring Installation System,” filedJul. 27, 2015, both of which are incorporated by reference herein intheir entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a line support system, suchas an electrical wiring installation system for aerospace and otherapplications.

BACKGROUND

Aircraft and other vehicles, including aerospace vehicles, marinevehicles, land vehicles, space vehicles, etc., include many wires andother lines extending through the vehicle. These wires are typicallysupported on clamps secured to the airframe. Conventional clamps areinjection molded and include metallic attachment members, such asmateable threads and grooves. Conventional clamps each experiencedrawbacks, such as difficulty of installation and use, as well asrequiring costly manufacturing processes.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present technology provide a line support system thatovercomes drawbacks experienced in the prior art and that providesadditional benefits. As an example, at least one aspect of the presenttechnology provides a line support system, such as an electrical wiringinstallation system. The system includes a clip assembly having an uppermember with a first clamping surface and a threaded receptacle, and alower member with a second clamping surface and an aperture. The uppermember and the lower member are mateable such that the first clampingsurface faces the second clamping surface and the aperture issubstantially aligned with the threaded receptacle. The system alsoincludes a post comprising a base having a wire engagement member, and athreaded shaft extending from the base. The threaded shaft is configuredto pass through the aperture of the lower member of the clip assemblyand threadably mate with the threaded receptacle of the upper member ofthe clip assembly, thereby clamping the lower member between the baseand the upper member.

Another aspect of the present technology provides a line installationsystem comprising a clip assembly with first and second clip members.The first clip member has a first clamping surface and a threadedreceptacle. The second clip member has a second clamping surface and anaperture, wherein the first and second clip members are mateable withthe first clamping surface facing the second clamping surface and theaperture substantially aligned with the threaded receptacle. The systemhas a post releasably connectable to the clip assembly to hold the firstand second clip members together. The post comprises a base having awire engagement member, and a threaded shaft extends from the base andis configured to pass through the aperture of the second clip member ofthe clip assembly and threadably mate with the threaded receptacle ofthe first clip member of the clip assembly.

Another embodiment provides an electrical wiring installation system,comprising a clip assembly having comprising first and second clipmembers mateable together to secure the system to a mounting ledge. Thefirst clip member has a threaded receptacle therein. The system has apost with a base having a wire engagement member, and a threaded shaftextends from the base. The threaded shaft is configured to screw intothe threaded receptacle to releasably capture the second clip memberbetween the base and the first clip member to hold the clip assemblytogether on a mounting structure.

Another aspect of the present technology provides an electrical wiringinstallation system. The system includes a clip assembly having upperand lower members mated together to secure the system to a mountingledge. The lower member has an aperture aligned with a receptacle in theupper member, and the receptacle is at least partially threaded. Thesystem also includes a post that includes a base having a wireengagement member and a threaded shaft extending from the base. Thethreaded shaft is configured to extend through the aperture andthreadably engage the receptacle to secure the post to the clip assemblyand to secure the upper and lower members of the clip assembly together.

Another aspect of the present technology provides a method of retainingan electrical wire in an electrical wiring installation system. Themethod comprises providing a clip assembly that has first and secondclip members mateable together. The first clip has a threadedreceptacle, and the second clip has an aperture substantially alignedwith the threaded receptacle. The method includes providing a postreleasably connectable to the clip assembly to hold the first and secondclip members together. The post comprises a base having a wireengagement member, and a threaded shaft extending from the base. Thethreaded shaft is configured to pass through the aperture of the secondclip member of the clip assembly and threadably mate with the threadedreceptacle of the first clip member of the clip assembly to secure thepost to the clip assembly and to secure the first and second clipmembers together. The method includes mating the first and second clipmembers together over opposing sides of a mounting ledge, and threadingthe threaded shaft of the post into the receptacle of the first clipmember, thereby securing the post to the clip assembly and securing thefirst and second clip members together. The method includes coupling anelectrical wire to the post.

Another embodiment provides a method of retaining an electrical wire inan electrical wiring installation system. The method includes providinga clip assembly that includes upper and lower members mated together,wherein the lower member has an aperture aligned with a receptacle inthe upper member, and the receptacle is at least partially threaded. Themethod further includes providing a post that includes a base having awire engagement member, and a threaded shaft extending from the base.The threaded shaft is configured to extend through the aperture andthreadably engage the receptacle to secure the post to the clip assemblyand to secure the upper and lower members of the clip assembly together.The method further includes mating the upper member and the lower memberof the clip assembly together over opposing sides of a mounting ledge,and threading the threaded shaft of the post through the aperture andinto the receptacle of the clip assembly, thereby securing the post tothe clip assembly and securing the upper member and the lower member ofthe clip assembly together. The method further includes coupling anelectrical wire to the post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1D are perspective, side, front, and exploded views,respectively, of an electrical wiring installation system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present technology.

FIGS. 2A-2D are perspective, side, top, and bottom views, respectively,of a post of the electrical wiring installation system shown in FIGS.1A-1D.

FIGS. 3A-3E are perspective, side, front, top, and bottom views,respectively, of a lower clip assembly member of the electrical wiringinstallation system shown in FIGS. 1A-1D.

FIGS. 4A-4E are perspective, side, front, top, and bottom views,respectively, of an upper clip assembly member of the electrical wiringinstallation system shown in FIGS. 1A-1D.

Appendix A includes additional views of a line installation system inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes a line support system, such as anelectrical wiring installation system in accordance with certainembodiments of the present technology. Several specific details of theembodiments are set forth in the following description and Figures toprovide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. One skilled in theart, however, will understand that the present technology may haveadditional embodiments, and that other embodiments of the technology maybe practiced without several of the specific features described below.Further, one skilled in the art will recognize that the system describedherein could be configured in many different arrangements andembodiments. Such variations of the present disclosure may be utilizedwithout deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention.The various embodiments set forth below are described and shown with alevel of detail to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure.Other structures and systems that may be associated with electricalwiring installation systems have not been fully discussed to enable aclearer presentation of embodiments of this disclosure.

The embodiment of the line support system is described herein as anelectrical wiring installation system for purposes of illustration, withreference to the relative spatial orientation of the electrical wiringinstallation system as shown in the Figures. The directional referencesregarding upper, lower, left, right, etc., however, are used to describethe assembly in the orientation as illustrated for ease ofunderstanding. The directional orientation shown and described herein isnot intended to limit the structure of the electrical wiringinstallation system. The electrical wiring installation system can beoriented in spatial orientations different than those shown in theFigures.

FIGS. 1A-1D are perspective, side, front, and exploded views,respectively, of an electrical wiring installation system 100(hereinafter “system 100”). Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D together, thesystem 100 includes a clip assembly 101 releasably coupled to a firstpost 103 a which in turn is serially and releasably coupled to a secondpost 103 b (together “posts 103”). As shown in FIG. 1B, the clipassembly 101 includes an upper member 105 and a lower member 107configured to engage with a mounting ledge 109 (e.g., a ledge protrudingfrom a portion of an airframe or other support structure) by clampingthe mounting ledge 109 between the upper and lower members 105 and 107.The clip assembly 101 thereby secures the system 100 in place withrespect to the mounting ledge 109. In the illustrated embodiment, theupper member 105 has a rear surface 110 located immediately adjacent toand/or engage the vertical surface 112 of the mounting ledge 109 so asto brace against the mounting ledge to provide substantial stability tothe clip assembly 101 and the posts 103 when installed. Accordingly, theinterface between the rear surface 110 and the mounting ledge 109 caneffectively react torsional loads that may be applied it to the system100 during use.

The posts 103 extend from the clip assembly 101 and are configured soelectrical wires (or other lines) can be fastened to the posts 103.Accordingly, the wires will be securely retained and supported relativeto the mounting ledge by the system 100. The posts 103 can be identicaland interchangeable. As illustrated, each post includes a plurality ofwire engagement members 111 configured to receive an elongated fastener(e.g., a zip-tie or other similar fastener) therethrough that can beused to secure the one or more wires to the post 103. In use, the system100 is secured to the mounting ledge 109 and a plurality of wiresrunning adjacent to the posts 103 can be secured to one or more of thewire engagement members 111. A plurality of such systems 100 can bespaced apart along a mounting ledge or series of mounting ledges (e.g.,along a section of an airframe) so that electrical wires can besupported and secured in position along their lengths.

In the illustrated embodiment, some or all of the components of thesystem 100 are made with 3D printed polymers using additivemanufacturing techniques, for example extrusion techniques such as fuseddeposition modeling (FDM), also referred to as fused filamentfabrication (FFF). Various other 3D manufacturing techniques may be usedas desired, for example light polymerized techniques, inkjet headprinting, selective laser melting or sintering, laminated objectmanufacturing, or any other suitable technique. The use of 3D printingto form the components of the system can provide several advantages overconventional approaches such as injection molding. For example, 3Dprinting provides improved controllability, expanded choice ofmaterials, increased speed and reliability, as well as greaterflexibility in adjusting the manufacturing process from one batch to thenext. Another benefit of 3D printing is that features of the innerstructure of the system can be tightly controlled, as compared totraditional injection molding techniques in which the entire structureis generally uniform in fill and density throughout. With 3D printing,the system can be manufactured to have a non-solid construction withclosed internal voids throughout to decrease the weight of the system orto provide additional structural support in desired portions. In someembodiments, characteristics of the materials can vary throughout thecomponents of the system, for example by varying density and/orcomposition of the polymer or polymer blends throughout. In someembodiments, the materials can include one or more of acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS), Nylon 618, Nylon 645, polylactic acid (PLA),polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (either opaque or transparent base,with or without additives), Nylon with improved printing qualities, orNylon with aramid fiber reinforcement. The illustrated embodiment ismade of a material that satisfies FAA flammability requirements (i.e.,non-flammability). In some embodiments, one or more of the materialsused to make the components of the system 100 can meet otherrequirements for aerospace manufacturing compliance, for examplenon-flammability, vibration resistance, durability, rigidity, etc. Inyet other embodiments, the materials may or may not need to meet thesame FAA or other aerospace manufacturing compliance requirements. Otherembodiments can use other 3D printable materials to provide thecomponents with the desired performance characteristics and/or otherproperties, including characteristics and/or properties suitable to theinstallation and associated approval regulations.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D, the upper member 105 and lower member 107 ofthe clip assembly 101 can be separable components joined together by athreaded shaft of the post 103 a, as described in more detail below. Insome embodiments, the upper member 105 and the lower member 107 arejoined together by an elongated tether 108 (omitted from FIG. 1D forpurposes of clarity). The upper member 105 includes a lower portion 113configured to face toward an upper portion 115 of the lower member 107.The lower portion 113 of the upper member 105 includes a first matingsurface 117 and a first clamping surface 119. As seen best in FIG. 1D,the first mating surface 117 can be disposed towards one end of thelower portion 113 and the first clamping surface 119 can be disposedtowards an opposite end of the lower portion 113. The upper portion 115of the lower member 107 includes a second mating surface 121 and asecond clamping surface 123. The upper member 105 and the lower member107 are configured, such that when mated together, the first matingsurface 117 comes into direct contact with the second mating surface 121and the first clamping surface 119 faces the second clamping surface123. When the first and second mating surfaces 117, 121 are in directcontact, the first and second clamping surfaces 119, 123 can be spacedapart from one another by a predetermined gap 125 (FIG. 1B) that isdimensioned to snugly capture a mounting ledge 109 therein, such thatthe rear surface 110 of the upper member 105 is engaged with orimmediately adjacent to the mounting ledge 109 (FIG. 1B). The gap 125between the first and second clamping surfaces 119, 123 can extend alonga lateral portion 127 and a vertical portion 128 so as to receive both alateral and a vertical portion of the mounting ledge 109. In otherembodiments, the dimensions and shapes of the upper and lower members105, 107 can be configured to receive mounting ledges having othershapes, orientations, and sizes.

The upper member 105 includes a threaded receptacle 129 extendingupwardly from the first mating surface 117. The lower member 107includes an aperture 131 the second mating surface 121 and through thethickness of the lower member 107. The aperture 131 is sized andpositioned such that, when the first mating surface 117 and the secondmating surface 121 mate together, the aperture 131 is substantiallyaligned with the threaded receptacle 129. Because the threadedreceptacle 129 and the aperture 131 are positioned in the upper andlower members 105 and 107 at the first and second mating surfaces 117,121, when the post 103 a is coupled to the clip assembly 101 the post103 a is spaced laterally away from the mounting ledge 109, which isgrasped between the first and second clamping surfaces 119, 123. Thisarrangement can provide easier manual access to the post 103 a when theclip assembly 101 is secured to the mounting ledge 109 as compared toalternative arrangements in which the post is positioned closer to themounting ledge 109.

The post 103 a includes a base 133 and a threaded shaft 135 extendingaway from the base 133. The base 133 can be substantially a rectangularprism with an upper surface 137, a lower surface 139, and a plurality ofside surfaces 141 a-d. Each of the side surfaces 141 a-d includes twowire engagement members 111 that, as noted above, are configured toreceive an elongated fastener (e.g., a zip-tie or other similarfastener) therethrough that can be used to secure a wire or other linerunning adjacent to the post 103 a. The threaded shaft 135 extends fromthe upper surface 137 of the base 133 and includes a tapered boss 143that defines a wedging surface at its base.

The threaded shaft 135 is sized and configured to pass through theaperture 131 in the lower member 107 of the clip assembly 101 and to bethreadably received within the threaded receptacle 129 of the uppermember 105 of the clip assembly 101. In the illustrated embodiment, themating threads on the threaded shaft 135 and the threaded receptacle 129can have a customized shape, such as a non-symmetrical cross-sectionalshape (i.e., the intersecting faces of each thread are at differentangles relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft or receptacle 135or 129). For example, one of the intersecting faces of the thread can beapproximately at or close to perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe shaft 135 or receptacle 129, and the other face couldnon-perpendicular and at an acute angle relative to the longitudinalaxis. This customized, non-symmetrical thread shape can provide betterretention and thread engagement when the shaft 135 is screwed into andtightened within the receptacle 135. In another embodiment, the matingthreads on the shaft 135 and receptacle 129 can have a moreconventional, symmetrical cross-sectional shape (i.e., the intersectingfaces of the thread are at approximately the same angle relative to thelongitudinal axis of the shaft 135 or receptacle 139). When the threadedshaft 135 is tightened within the threaded receptacle 129, the uppersurface 137 of the post 103 a urges the lower member 107 towards theupper member 105, such that the first mating surface 117 and the secondmating surface 121 come into direct contact with each other, and thefirst clamping surface 119 and the second clamping surface 123 areseparated from one another by the gap 125 so as to receive and clamponto opposing surfaces of the mounting ledge. In some embodiments, thepost 103 a can be rotated by hand, without the use of tools, to screwthe threaded shaft 135 into the threaded receptacle 129. In someembodiments, the boss 143 of the post 103 a can include one or moreprotuberances (not shown) configured to engage corresponding recess(es)(not shown) at the opening or within the threaded receptacle 129. Themating of a protuberance with a corresponding recess can define a lockedor final position in which the threaded shaft 135 has been sufficientlyinserted into the threaded receptacle 129. In this locked or finalposition, the side surfaces 141 a-d of the post 103 a can besubstantially parallel to side surfaces of the clip assembly 101,thereby facilitating and ensuring a selected orientation of the post(s)103 for coupling wires to the wire engagement members 111 when thesystem 100 is secured in position with respect to a mounting ledge 109.

The first post 103 a is configured to releasably connect to the secondpost 103 b so the posts are coaxially aligned and extend away from theclip assembly 101. The second post 103 b can be identical andinterchangeable with the first post 103 a with the threaded shaftextending away from the base. In another embodiment, the first andsecond posts 103 a and 103 b can be interchangeable, although one postmay be different than the other. For example, the first post 103 a maybe slightly longer or shorter than the second post 103 b to accommodatethe installation. The bottom portion of the first post 103 a includes athreaded receptacle 145 with a flared opening 147 configured to receivea threaded shaft 149 of the second post 103 b therein, such that thetapered boss 151 of the second post 103 b mates in a wedging action withthe flared opening 147 of the first post 103 a. The second post 103 balso includes a threaded receptacle therein (not shown) such that anadditional post can be mated to the second post 103 b in a serial mannerand in axial alignment. In some embodiments, the flared opening 147 ofthe first post 103 a includes a recess (not shown) configured to engagewith a corresponding protuberance on the boss 151 of the second post 103b to define a locked or final position in which the threaded shaft 149of the second post 103 b has been sufficiently inserted into the secondthreaded receptacle 145 of the first post 103 a. In this locked or finalposition, the side surfaces 141 a-d of the first post 103 a can besubstantially parallel to or generally coplanar with side surfaces 153a-d of second post 103 b. In some embodiments, the system 100 caninclude three, four, five, six, or more posts coupled in series. Inother embodiments, the system 100 can include only a single post coupledto the clip assembly.

FIGS. 2A-2D are perspective, side, top, and bottom views, respectively,of one of the posts 103 of the system 100. Referring to FIGS. 2A-2Dtogether, the post 103 a includes the base 133 and threaded shaft 135extending away from an upper surface 137 of the base 133. The threadedshaft 135 includes a tapered boss 143 at its lower portion where itmeets the upper surface 137 of the base 133. Each of the side surfaces141 a-d includes two wire engagement members 111 configured to receivean elongated fastener therethrough. The post 103 a also includes thesecond threaded receptacle 145 with a flared opening 147 that canoptionally receive a threaded shaft 149 of a second post 103 b (FIG. 1D)therein such that the tapered boss 151 of the second post 103 b mateswith the flared opening 147 of the first post 103 a.

The wire engagement members each include a bar 155 extending over arecess 157 configured to receive at least a portion of a fasteningmember. Each bar 155 of the illustrated embodiment is substantiallyhorizontally oriented, i.e., parallel to the upper and/or lower surfaces137, 139 of the post 103 a. The recess 157 over which the bar 155extends can be sufficiently deep to receive a zip-tie or other elongatedfastener therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment, the post 103 a hastwo wire engagement members 111 on each of the four side surfaces 141a-d. In other embodiments, the post 103 a can have fewer or greaternumbers of wire engagement members 111 on each side of the post 103 a.In some embodiment, wire engagement members 111 may only be provided onsome of the sides of the post but not others. Optionally, the wireengagement members 111 can take other forms, for example an annular ringcoupled to and surrounding the post 103 a. Various other configurationsand arrangements of the wire engagement members 111 can be used asdesired.

FIGS. 3A-3E are perspective, side, front, top, and bottom views,respectively, of the lower member 107 of the clip assembly 101 shown inFIGS. 1A-1D. Referring to FIGS. 3A-3E together, the lower member 107includes the upper portion 115 configured to face the lower portion 113of the upper member 105 (FIG. 1D). The upper portion 115 of the lowermember 107 includes the second mating surface 121 and the secondclamping surface 123. The aperture 131 is formed in the second matingsurface 121 and extends through the thickness of the lower member 107.The second mating surface 121 includes a base portion 158 in which theaperture 131 is formed and two raised wings 159 each with an angledsurface 161 and an upper horizontal surface 163. The horizontal surfaces163 and/or angled surfaces 161 can be ridged so as to engage withcorresponding ridges (or other friction-fit features) of the firstmating surface 117 of the upper member 105. The angled surfaces 161 areconfigured to angle downwardly and away from the second clamping surface123 to facilitate engagement with the upper member 105 as described inmore detail below. The second clamping surface 123 can include aplurality of raised features 165 that provide a more secure grip whenclamping a ledge (e.g., mounting ledge 109, FIG. 1B).

FIGS. 4A-4E are perspective, side, front, top, and bottom views,respectively, of the upper member 105 of the clip assembly 101 shown inFIGS. 1A-1D. Referring to FIGS. 4A-4E together, the upper member 105includes the lower portion 113 configured to face and engage with theupper portion 115 of the lower member 107 (FIG. 1D). The lower portion113 of the upper member 105 includes the first mating surface 117 andthe first clamping surface 119. The threaded receptacle 129 is formed inthe first mating surface 117. The first mating surface 117 includes abase portion 167 in which the threaded receptacle 129 is formed andrecesses 169 on opposing sides of the threaded receptacle 129. Eachrecess 169 includes an angled surface 171 and an upper horizontalsurface 173. The horizontal surfaces 173 and/or angled surfaces 171 canbe ridged so as to engage with corresponding ridges (or otherfriction-fit features) of the second mating surface 121 of the lowermember 107. For example, ridges 172 are formed along the horizontalsurface 173 as shown in FIG. 4E. The first clamping surface 119 can alsoinclude a plurality of raised features that provide a more secure gripwhen clamping a ledge (e.g., mounting ledge 109, FIG. 1B).

The angled surfaces 171 of the upper member 105 and the correspondingangled surfaces 161 of the lower member 107 are configured to angledownwardly and away from the first and second clamping surfaces 119,123. This orientation facilitates engagement of the upper member 105 andthe lower member 107. To join the two, the wings 159 of the lower member107 are placed at least partially within the recesses 169 of the uppermember 105 such that the base portion 158 of the lower member 107 facesthe corresponding base portion 167 of the upper member 105. As the firstand second mating surfaces 117, 121 are brought closer together, thewings 159 of the lower member 107 are urged into position with respectto the recesses 169 of the upper member 105 such that the horizontalsurfaces 163 of the wings 159 of the lower member 107 come into directcontact with the corresponding horizontal surfaces 173 of the recessesof the upper member 105. This positioning also defines the thickness ofthe gap 125 (FIG. 1B), particularly in the vertical portion 128 of thegap 125. This wedging motion of the corresponding angled surfaces 161,171 drives the first and second clamping surfaces 119, 123 togetheracross both the vertical portion 128 and the lateral portion 127 of thegap 125.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments ofthe invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration,but that various modifications may be made without deviating from thescope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited exceptas by the appended claims.

1.-21. (canceled)
 22. A line installation system, comprising: a clipassembly comprising: a first clip member having a first clamping surfaceand a first connection member; and a second clip member having a secondclamping surface and a receiving portion; wherein the first and secondclip members are mateable with the first clamping surface facing thesecond clamping surface and the receiving portion adjacent to the firstconnection member; and a post releasably connectable to the clipassembly to hold the first and second clip members together, the postcomprising: a base having a wire engagement member; and a secondconnection member attached to the base, the second connection memberpositionable in the receiving portion of the second clip member andsecurely mate with the first connection member.
 23. The system of claim22 wherein the second connection member is a shaft configured to passthrough the second clip member and mate with the first connection memberof the first clip member with at least portions of the first and secondclip members spaced apart from each other.
 24. The system of claim 22wherein the first clip member comprises a first mating surface adjacentto the first clamping surface, and wherein the second clip membercomprises a second mating surface adjacent to the second clampingsurface, such that when the first and second clip members are matedtogether, the first mating surface and the second mating surface are indirect contact and the first clamping surface and the second clampingsurface are spaced apart from one another by a gap configured to receivea mounting ledge therein.
 25. The system of claim 24 wherein the firstconnection member is a receptacle formed in the first mating surface andthe receiving portion is formed in the second mating surface, such thatwhen the clip assembly is engaged with the mounting ledge, the post isspaced laterally away from the mounting ledge.
 26. The system of claim24 wherein the first mating surface and the second mating surface havecorresponding angled shapes.
 27. The system of claim 24 wherein thefirst mating surface and the second mating surface are ridged.
 28. Thesystem of claim 22 wherein the post is a first post, and furthercomprising a second post interchangeable with the first post.
 29. Thesystem of claim 28 wherein the second post is substantially identical tothe first post.
 30. The system of claim 29 wherein a projection of thesecond post comprises a tapered boss around a base of the projection,and wherein the first post comprises a flared opening, wherein thetapered boss is configured to securely engage with the flared opening.31. The system of claim 22 wherein the clamping surface is configured toengage a mounting ledge of an airframe.
 32. The system of claim 22wherein the system is made entirely from a 3-D printed polymer.
 33. Thesystem of claim 22 wherein the post is configured to be mated with theclip assembly without tools.
 34. The system of claim 22 wherein at leastone of the first clip member, the second clip member, or the post has anon-solid construction with a closed internal void within.
 35. A lineinstallation system, comprising: a clip assembly comprising: a firstclip member having a first clamping surface and a receptacle; and asecond clip member having a second clamping surface and a receivingportion; wherein the first and second clip members are mateable with thefirst clamping surface facing the second clamping surface and thereceiving portion substantially aligned with the receptacle; and a postreleasably connectable to the clip assembly to hold the first and secondclip members together, the post comprising: a base having a wireengagement member; and a shaft extending from the base, the shaftconfigured to extend along the receiving portion of the second clipmember and mate with the receptacle of the first clip member.
 36. Thesystem of claim 35 wherein the system is made entirely from a 3-Dprinted polymer.
 37. The system of claim 35 wherein the post isconfigured to be mated with the clip assembly without tools.
 38. Amethod of retaining an electrical wire in an electrical wiringinstallation system, the method comprising: providing a clip assemblycomprising: first and second clip members mateable together, the firstclip having a receptacle, and the second clip having a receiving portionaligned relative to the receptacle; providing a post releasablyconnectable to the clip assembly to hold the first and second clipmembers together, the post comprising: a base having a wire engagementmember; and a connection member extending from the base, the connectionmember configured to pass through the receiving portion of the secondclip member and mate with the receptacle of the first clip member of theclip assembly to secure the post to the clip assembly and to secure thefirst and second clip members together; and mating the first and secondclip members together over opposing sides of a mounting ledge;positioning the shaft of the post into the receptacle of the first clipmember, thereby securing the post to the clip assembly and securing thefirst and second clip members together; and coupling an electrical wireto the post.
 39. The method of claim 38 wherein the mounting ledgecomprises a portion of an airframe.
 40. The method of claim 38 whereincoupling the electrical wire to the post comprises securing a zip-tiearound the wire and a wire engagement member of the post.
 41. The methodof claim 38 wherein positioning the shaft of the post into thereceptacle of the clip assembly comprises threadably engaging the shaftof the post with threads in the receptacle without the use of tools.